Former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios has become the latest tennis professional to sign up for the One Point Slam, an unusual tournament taking place at Melbourne Park ahead of next month’s Australian Open. The 48-player event sees pro players take on amateurs and celebrity wildcards in a one-day event, with a prize of £498k (AUD$1m) up for grabs. Each match consists of just one point, and world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz has also signed up.
News of Kyrgios’ participation in the One Point Slam comes days after the BBC picked up the Aussie’s ‘Battle of the Sexes’ clash with WTA No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. Kyrgios will face four-time Major winner Sabalenka in Dubai on December 28, with the man vs woman match to be shown live on BBC One from 3.45pm UK time on December 28 with Clare Balding presenting coverage, and Andrew Cotter leading commentary.
The former world No. 13 has been sidelined by knee and wrist injuries for most of the last three years – but his comeback now seems to be gaining momentum. After facing Sabalenka in the fourth official match billed as a ‘Battle of the Sexes’ later this month, Kyrgios will head home to prepare for the Australian Open.
The 2022 doubles champion in Melbourne will need a wildcard to enter the main singles draw if he wants to compete, as his injury protected ranking of No. 21 has expired. While there’s been no official news of Kyrgios’ main draw participation at the Aussie Open, he has now signed up for the pre-tournament One Point Slam.
The unusual format sees 48 players – pros, amateurs and celebs – play one point and one point only during each ‘match’, with the winner advancing. A game of rock, paper, scissors determines who will serve.
World No. 333 Omar Jasika was crowned the champion of the inaugural event in 2025, when the prize money was down at £30k (AUD$60k). The prize money has increased 16-fold this year, and attracted bigger names to enter the tournament, as six-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz will feature in the draw alongside Kyrgios.
On top of the £498k prize up for grabs for the last player standing, the winner will also take home a brand new Kia EV3 car. The One Point Slam is part of Opening Week, with exciting exhibitions and competitions taking place ahead of the Australian Open main draw, and takes place on Wednesday, January 13.
Last year’s runner-up, Alexander Zverev, faces Lorenzo Musetti in an exhibition match a day earlier, while Alcaraz will meet Aussie star Alex de Minaur in a friendly on Thursday evening.
Two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner takes on Felix Auger-Aliassime in Friday’s exhibition. The Red Bull BassLine event also takes place on Friday, which sees current and former pros face off with a live DJ on the court.